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Marr is thrilled to be a Crib. But a Smith? Well... (© John Davisson/Corbis)

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Johnny Marr is talking way too much. That's not exactly a problem - except for the fact that the two of us are riding the elevator in New York City's Warner Brothers Records building and he's already giving me answers to questions I'm due to ask in just a few minutes.

Marr is in town with his new bandmates, The Cribs, for an appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman and a pair of sold-out shows at The Bowery Ballroom, and the revered ex-Smiths guitarist is looking forward to playing with what he calls "one of the best bands I've ever been associated with."

That Marr, who divides his time between homes in Portland, Oregon (where he met Cribs bassist, Gary Jarman) and Manchester, England, joined what many see as a B-level band took quite a few people by surprise - something Marr himself finds surprising.

"It's all part of a musical journey," he says as we exit the elevator. "And The Cribs are a great, great band. The fact is, I'd be stupid to not join them, and I'm supremely happy I got the chance to do so."

Marr's trademark guitar work is very much felt on The Cribs' newest album, Ignore The Ignorant. His breezy, lyrical, and yes, jangly lines fill in key spaces between the band's jagged, jerky rhythms and riffs. Produced by Nick Launay, Ignore The Ignorant, is The Cribs' most polished effort, and the band (which also includes singer-guitarist Ryan Jarman and brother Ross on drums) just might have a shot at a hit single in the States with the memorable We Share The Same Skies.

The Cribs (from left to right) Ryan Jarman, Johnny Marr, Ross Jarman, Gary Jarman

Marr asks a Warners rep for coffee ("my only vice these days," he says sheepishly) and we settle into a cozy little room with plush couches, along with Ryan, to talk about the new direction of The Cribs, guitars (shredders, beware!), and last but not least, The Smiths.

Marr's former band always has a way of popping up in interviews, and while the guitarist has stated that he's "bored" with the topic, MusicRadar raised the issue in a most unusual way - and Marr's response was not what we were expecting.

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How did this little romance take place? You guys are living in Portland, Oregon, right?